PRINEVILLE, Ore. — There’s really no telling what kind of stories will come out of Prineville during the Crooked River Roundup, especially during the city’s annual cattle drive through the middle of town.

In years past, cattle have stomped through front yards, visited the McDonald’s drive-thru and even tried to freshen up for their big Rodeo debut at King’s Oil and Lube car wash.

“It’s more exciting to find out what went wrong with the cattle than what went right,” said Kim Molnar, director of tourism for the Prineville Chamber, which now runs the annual event.

Since the 1940s, the cattle drive has signaled the start of rodeo season in Prineville. The Crooked River Roundup Rodeo kicked off Wednesday and runs through Saturday at the Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville. It’s a time when the community comes together and the only instance when cattle are welcome on Main Street.

“It’s just part of Prineville,” said 66-year-old Debbie Seiffert. “This is the weekend of the year we love. It’s the one time of year we don’t plan to be out of town. We want to come and be a part of everything.”

Seiffert grew up watching the cattle drive in Prineville during its heyday when more than a hundred cattle marched though downtown Prineville.

The event has gotten smaller in recent years, she said. This year only around 30 participated, but she and her husband still love coming every year since they moved back to the town in 2015.

Also unable to stay away were Snoden and Pat DeBoard. The couple both turn 85 in two weeks, and Snoden was the grand marshal for the Crooked River Roundup in 1997. Pat DeBoard said they come every year because they like seeing the rodeo queen and the grand marshals drive the cattle to the fairgrounds every year. It’s also a chance for them to see friends that are only ever in town for the rodeo.

“We will be coming until we can’t come anymore,” said Pat DeBoard. “Maybe we will be 100!”

For those who weren’t born and raised in Prineville, the cattle drive is a chance to experience the cowboy capital of Oregon. Molnar said the event has grown exponentially since the Prineville Chamber took over six years ago, and it’s a great way for tourists coming in for the rodeo to experience all the city has to offer.

“If you haven’t been to Prineville, come check us out,” said Molnar. “It’s our culture and our heritage. Prineville really does fall into ranching and the cowboy lifestyle, and we just want people to know what we’ve got here and feel welcomed — more than anything just to feel welcomed.”